Flush-tank siphon.



Patented J ul'y 25, 1916.

'1. S. KATZIN.

FLUSH TANK SIPHGN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY e, 191s.

A TTOHNE YS lllilll {lll wl/vEssEs .l

m: Nanms Perses co.A www4: ma.4 wasrmvcnmA n c,

sin

il@ L JACOB S. KATZIN, OF NEWARK, NEVI JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTHTO JACOB S.

KATZIN, ONE-FOURTH TO HARRY COLTT, ONE-FOURTH TO LEO SAMEL, AND OEE- FOURTE TO MORRIS SCHARFE, ALL OF NEW'ARK, NEW JERSEY.

FLUSH-TANK SPHON.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pgttqqnjiged July 25,- 1916,

Application filed May 6, 1916. Serial No.`95,850.

the like adapted to be readily fitted to either high or low down tanks, and applicable also to tanks now in use without the necessity for disconnecting the tank from the outlet pipe.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of the siphon constituting the means for iiushing the tank, said siphon being preferably of tubular construction, having its down leg fitted into the` spud constituting the connection between the outlet pipe and the tank, and also including a dome-shaped up leg adjustably connected to the top of the down leg so as to vary the rapidity of outfiow of the water, depending upon the adjustment of the Siphon for high tanks or low tanks, said siphon being made preferably also of a material adapting it especially to the adjustable adaptation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for regulating the admission of water into the top of the siphon to variably break'the siphonic action atany time prior to the fall of the water to the bottom of the up leg. y

Another object or the invention is to improve the means for initiating the siphonic action by plunging the float ball downwardly into the water. l

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view theinvention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same parts inthe several views, and in which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section through the center of the siphon'; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a detail of a special con* nection adaptingmy improvement to existing tanks and outlets; Fig. 4f is a large detail view of the needle valve mechanism; and Fig. 5 'is a detail of the siphon adjustment. Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I show at 10 a flush tank indicated as of the low down type, for which my improvement is particularly well adapted.

11 indicates the outer pipe, and-12 is the coupling or spud making the permanent and water-tight connection betweenr the bottom of the tank and the pipe 11. The means for connecting'the spudand the outlet pipe to the tank may be of any well known or conventional character, and in fact may be the same as are in common use, my improvement being vdesigned to be connected directly to existing installations.

The tank is provided with an inlet valve provide cone bearings 19 in axial horizontal alinement with each other and projecting into correspondingly shaped sockets in the end disks Q0 ofthe iio'at, the float being preferably in thev form' of a true cylinder with its axis horizontal and transverse with respect to the tank. sta'y rod 21 connects the two parts of the arm'lG so as tostiifen the structure and prevent spreading of the bearing portions.' This construction provides a most suitable support for the' float, preventing twisting or tiltingV around a longitudinal horizontal axis, such as is found to be incident to other structures of this general type wherein the arm is single and extends around the flushing mechanism.

As above premised, the flushing mechanism comprises a siphon of tubular form, or one which comprises a down leg 22 of straight tubular form having lboth ends open, and an up leg 23 in the nature of a cylindrical tube having its upper end closed in the nature of a dome, and spaced upwardly from and surrounding the upper end of the down leg 22. For reasons which will appear presently, 1 construct the siphon legs 22 and 23 of some suitable transparent material, such as glass. The construction of the siphon of glass ada-pts it for several important functions, among which may be noted the adaptability for easy and satisfactory adjustment of the means for controlling the inlet of water, having reference particularly to the means employed herein for initiating the siphonic action, that is to say, the normal water level should be in a plane at or slightly below the upper edge of the down leg 22. l/Vith the siphon constructed of transparent material, it is possible to always regulate the inlet mechanism with accuracy and convenience, even though the siphon is installed and set for operation. To initiate the siphonic action, the iioat 18 is plunged by suitable means into the water, the displacement of which causes a corresponding rise in the level of the water overflowing into the down leg 22 from all sides, and hence the importance of having the normal water level at or close to the plane of the top of the down leg. This form of siphon is adapted especially for low down tanks where a large volume of outflow is necessary to cause the operation of the siphon. As soon as the overilow of the water into the member 22 takes place from all sides, and the water flows down in the form of a cylinder, the air communication is shut oi immediately and the siphonic action takes place promptly, causing the water to flow from the tank upwardly through the open lower end of the member 23 until the siphon is broken at the desired time, either when the water level reaches the lower end of the up leg 0r at some prior time if suiiicient air is introduced into the dome. Furthermore, the construction of the siphon of glass is most expeditious and cheap, adapting it for general use at a reasonable price, and being of a sanitary material, will not only be always kept clean, but the condition may always be inspected and determined, and the volume of water flowing may always be seen and regulated.

The top or dome 23 of the up leg is somewhat rounded to facilitate the construction of the same and also the outflow of water therethrough into the down leg. The dome is connected to the down leg adjustably as by means of a pair of threaded standards 24 connected at their lower ends in any suitable manner to the upper end of the down leg 22 and extending through holes 25 in the dome. Pairs of lock nuts 26 are employed upon the threaded upper ends oi' the standards 24e to determine the elevation oi the dome with respect to the member 22, and thereby will be determined the outflow area between the lower end of the 'leg 23 and the bottom of the tank. When applied to high tanks, the outiiow area may be smaller than for low tanks where the maxi- Vmum rapidity oi'flow is required.

Since the normal water level in the tank is determined at or about the level of the upper end of the down leg for the most satisfactory operation of the siphonic action initiating devices employed by me, and it is at many times desirable to break the siphon before all the water is withdrawn from the tank, l provide regulatable means to admit air into the dome. 1n other words, the best plumbing practice demands that the amount of water discharged from the tank shall be enough for the purpose and no more. An excessive outflow of water will not only be a waste of water, but is apt to cause a second siphoning of the bowl. 1 Yform a hole 27 in the top of the dome, and lock therein a nipple 28, by means of lock nuts 29, the nipple being externally threaded from one end to the other for the acommodation of said lock nuts, and also for a cap 30. rl`he nipple has an open lower end and its upper end is closed with a cone 31 having several air holes 32 therethrough. The cone has an outwardly projecting point or needle 31 coperating with the central hole 30 in the cap. The cap is movable down upon the nipple so as to bring the needle point more or less into the hole 30', thereby obstructing the air passage accordingly. This type 01"' needle valve to control the admission of air into the dome is very delicate as to adjustment, but exceedingly reliable after being once adjusted. By the provision of air inlet means described herein, air in small quantities is drawn into the dome during the operation of the siphon, the amount of the air thus admitted determining the time of breakage of the flow ot the siphon as may be desired prior to the fall oi the level of the waterto the lower end of the up leg. ln other words, by opening the air inlet by the unscrewing oi the cap 30, the siphonic action may be stopped soon after it is initiated and thereby the amount of water discharged is comparatively small, and the action is practically noiseless.

l will now describe the means for actuating the float to initiate the siphonic action, the means being shown as applicable especially to low down tanks, but with slight modification the mechanism will be adapted to high tanks.

A handle 33 is connected on the outer end of a rock shaft 34: journaled freely in the tank adjacent one end thereof. This handle 33 is adapted to be swung laterally through approximately 90 degrees or less, as may be required to start the siphon. The extent of movement of the handle may be limited by a finger 35 connected by a collar and set screw 36 to the rock shaft just within one side wall, the finger being adapted to abut against the end wall of the tank.

37 indicates an arm or lever having two projecting ends .of any suitable length or forni and cooperating with the upper surface of the roller float 18. The arm 37 is adjustably connected to the rock shaft by means of a hub 38 and set screw 39, whereby the arm may be properly positioned in accordance with the upward adjustment of the float to admit water up to the level of the leg 22. lVhen the handle 33 is turned so as to cause the arm 37 to force the float downwardly, the water displaced by the float will cause the overflow into the upper end of the leg 22, and the starting of the siphon, as already explained. The water or as much of it as required, will then be siphoned from the tank, the float going down with the water and opening the inlet valve 13. It is to be noted especially in this connection that the action of the operator in depressing the float, causes immediately an opening of the inlet valve with the corresponding inflow of water, and thereby the overflow or siphon starting effect is increased or accelerated. In the usual types of flushing devices, the ball cock is not opened until after the level of the water falls, whereas in this case, the opening of the valve takes place before the water begins to fall. The arrangement of the float and rock shaft depressing means therefor is'such that the handle cannot be turned far enough to cause the arm 37 to pass the dead center of the roller oat, hence it is impossible for the tripping mechanism t o become locked even though the handle be held for a great length of time. It is to be noted that the float constructed and mounted as explained, upon the yokeshaped arm 16 constitutes in effect an anti-friction bearing for the arm 37. It follows, therefore, that the power required to initiate the siphonic action is no more, and is practically less, than in the ordinary low down tank devices.

In the construction of the down leg 22'of glass, it is preferable to cast or otherwise form thereon a large thread 22, and hence to adapt the same to present installations, I may employ a coupling 38, as indicated in Fig. 3, made of metal or the like, one end having a small thread to connect with that type of spud having an internal thread and having at its other end a large thread to correspond with the large thread of the member 22.

I claim: 1. The combination with a low down float tank having permanent spud connection with the outlet and a vertically adjustable float to control the admission of water into the tank, of a Siphon comprising a lfixed valveless down leg secured into said spud and having at its upper end a plurality of vertically extending parallel threaded standards, said siphon also including a straight tubular up leg having a plurality of holes in its otherwise closed upper end through which said standards project, pairs of nuts to lock the up legl at a predetermined elevation above the bottom of the tank according to the desired outfiow capacity, said up leg being formed of transparent material so that the water level with respect to the top of the down leg may be determined directly by inspection, and pivoted means acting downwardly'upon the float to displace the water in the tank and open the inlet valve to cause the overflow of water into the down leg and start the siphonic action.

2. The combination with a flush tank and a valveless siphon to discharge the water therefrom, of a ball cock mechanism to refill the tank, said ball cock mechanism including a lever having a yoke-shaped arm 4adjustably connected thereto and a cylindrical float journaled in the free end of the yoke-shaped arm on a horizontal transverse axis, said yoke-shaped arm extending along both sides of the siphon, and lever mechanism acting with rolling friction upon the iioat to cause the depression of the same to initiate the siphonic action.

3. In a flush tank of the character set forth, the combination of a valveless siphon, an inlet valve, a lever connected to the inlet valve and including an arm extending along the siphon, a float pivoted for free rotation in the free end of the arm on a horizontal axis, a rock 'shaft journaled in the tank parallel to said axis, a handle to rotate the rock shaft, and an arm connected to the rock shaft and bearing upon the float whereby. when the rock shaft is rotated the float will be depressed to displace a certain amount of water and open the inlet valve to start the siphonic action.

4. In a flush tank mechanism, the combination with a tank and fixed outlet connections therewith including a spud; of a siphon including a valveless straight vertical down leg having a coarse thread at its lower end fitted into said spud, a straight tubular up leg of transparent material surrounding the upper end of the down leg, a plurality of standards extending between the two legs whereby the up leg is adjustably supported upon the down leg, the otherwise closed upper end of the up leg being provided with an. opening, and a needle valve device fitted in seid opening, said needle valve device commul Water level close to the plane of the upprising a nipple having an exterior thread per end of the down leg, said last mentioned from one end to the other and terminating in means including a pivoted float; and means l0 a central needle, and a cap having a hole in acting downwardly upon said float to cause 5 ulinelnent with said needle threaded upon the immediate overflow of the Water into the the upper end of the nipple; nie-ans to condown leg to sta-rt the siphonio action. trol the inlet of Water so as to provide a nor- JACOB S. KATZN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of 'Patente Washington, D. C. 

